WASHINGTON - Both major political parties reported fundraising increases during the
1999-2000 election cycle when compared to the last Presidential election cycle of 1995-96,
according to figures released by the Federal Election Commission. Republicans led with
total receipts of $715.7 million in both hard and soft dollars, while the Democrats had
total receipts of $520.4 million for the cycle. The following table provides a summary of
overall party receipts reported to the FEC for the past five election cycles:

1999-2000

1997-1998

1995-1996

1993-1994

1991-1992

Democrats

Federal

$275.2

$160.0

$221.6

$139.1

$177.7

Non Federal *

$245.2

$92.8

$123.9

$49.1

$36.3

Total

$520.4

$252.8

$345.5

$188.2

$214.0

Republicans

Federal

$465.8

$285.0

$416.5

$245.6

$267.3

Non Federal*

$249.9

$131.6

$138.2

$52.5

$49.8

Total

$715.70

$416.60

$554.7

$298.1

$317.1

Grand Total

$1,236.1

$669.4

$900.2

$486.3

$531.1

millions of dollars

* Includes only National Party Non-Federal funds.

For the period beginning January 1, 1999, through December 31, 2000, Republicans
continued to raise and spend considerably more money than Democrats in federal
(hard dollars), reporting receipts of $465.8 million and disbursements of $427 million by
their national, state and local political party committees. This was a 12% increase in
fundraising and a 4.5% increase in spending over the last Presidential election cycle for
Republicans. National, state and local Democratic Party committees raised $275.2 million
and spent $265.8 million, representing an increase of 24% in both federal receipts
and disbursements.

Republican committees contributed $2.3 million directly to candidates and reported
$29.6 million in coordinated expenditures* on behalf of candidates. Democratic committees
contributed $1.4 million and reported $21 million in coordinated expenditures. Also,
Republicans reported $1.6 million in independent expenditures for the 1999-2000 cycle,
while Democrats spent $2.3 million.

The following chart provides a comparison of political party federal activity
during the past 12 election cycles:

1999-2000

1997-98

1995-96

1993-94

1991-92

1989-90

1987-88

1985-86

1983-84

1981-82

1979-80

1977-78

Democrats

Raised

275.2

160

221.6

139.1

177.7

85.7

127.9

64.8

98.5

39.3

37.2

26.4

Spent

265.8

155.3

214.3

137.8

171.9

90.9

121.9

65.9

97.4

40.1

35

26.9

Contributed

3.86

1.2

2.2

2.2

1.9

1.5

1.7

1.7

2.6

1.7

1.7

1.8

Coord. Exp.

21.42

18.6

22.6

21.1

28

8.7

17.9

9

9

3.3

4.9

0.4

Indep. Exp.

2.27

1.5

1.5

Republicans

Raised

465.8

285

416.5

245.6

267.3

205.3

263.3

255.2

297.9

215

169.5

84.5

Spent

427

275.9

408.5

234.7

256.1

213.5

257

258.9

300.8

214

161.8

85.9

Contributed

2.8

2.6

3.7

2.8

3

2.9

3.4

3.4

4.9

5.6

4.5

4.5

Coord. Exp.

29.9

15.7

31

20.4

33.8

10.7

22.7

14.3

20.1

14.3

12.4

4.3

Democrats ended the 2000 election with cash-on-hand of $14.6 million and nearly $18
million in debts, while Republicans reported cash-on-hand of $33.1 million and $2.5
million in debts.

During the 2000 election cycle, both major parties raised record amounts of non-federal
or "soft money." Republican national party committees raised $249.9 million
in non-federal funds, up 81% from 1995-96, the last Presidential election cycle,
while Democratic national party committees raised $245.2 million, up 98% from 1995-96. Non-federal
money now makes up 47% of total receipts for Democrats and 35% for Republicans. Soft
money is used to pay a portion of the overhead expenses of party organizations, as well as
other shared expenses that benefit both federal and non-federal elections. In addition, it
is used for issue advocacy, as well as generic party advertising. It may also be
transferred from national committees to state and local party committees as well as being
used to support construction and maintenance of party headquarters.

For the 1999-2000 election cycle, Republicans disbursed $252.8 million from their
non-federal accounts. Of this amount, $129.9 million was transferred to state party
committees, $12.8 was contributed to state and local candidates, while $70.4 was spent on
joint federal/non-federal expenses and $48.1 was for other expenses. Democrats disbursed
$244.9 million during the cycle, transferring $149.8 million to state parties,
contributing $6.1 million to state and local candidates, spending $54.6 million on joint
federal/non-federal activity, and using $46.1 million for other expenses.

Attached to this release are various charts, graphs and tables describing overall
political party financial activities during the cycle:

Statistical details of political party activity for election cycle 2000;